By Meriba Tulo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Whilst 2018 has been a challenging year for Papua New Guinea’s mining industry, the country’s mining regulator aims to improve its performance over the next 12 months to ensure more benefits flow through to communities. Speaking to National EMTV News recently, Mineral Resources Authority Acting Managing Director, Nathan Mosusu, said the onus was on the organisation to constantly improve.
The Acting Managing Director of Mineral Resources Authority spoke on what the MRA would be focusing on in 2019. Among its immediate priorities, is improving and increasing its geo-science programs to map mineral deposits around the country.
With the Wafi-Golpu Mining project a focus of the National Government in 2019, the MRA has also committed to playing its role as a facilitator for negotiations between all stakeholders – with a view to have these negotiations completed prior to a potential MOA for the project.
But whilst it may be a new year, the challenges remain much the same, with landowner issues among the constant issues that eh MRA will have to deal with. Added onto that, the MRA’s efforts to work within the Public Money Management Regularisation Act, which is enforced by the Finance Department.
